Election held almost peacefully: CEC - Polling boycotted by people: BNP

Ballot papers being processed for counting of votes at one centre on Sunday 7 Jan 2024- UNB

The general election held across Bangladesh was marked by low turnout of voters amid boycott by the BNP and 61 other political parties, and dropping out of the race by a large number of independent candidates complaining of irregularities by supporters of candidates of the ruling Awami League.

The BNP claimed that abput 12 crore (120 million) people took part in the election boycott. 

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal told the press that the election was almost peaceful with around 40 percent turnout. He however added that in the final count the percent might go up or down.

As results were being collated at the Election Commission, preliminary information indicated that Krishak Sramik Janata League leader Kader Siddiqui lost to an Awami League candidate in Tangail while JSD (Inu) president and former minister Hasanul Huq Inu lost to a former Union Parishad chairman in Kushtia.  

Most polling stations experience thin attendance of voters from the morning. Voting increased in the midday and the afternoon, but there was now crowding of voters in queues as is normally seen in popular general elections. Vote strapping was reported from many polling stations.     

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls were held today almost peacefully with around 40 percent turnout of voters.

"Starting at 8am the polling ended at 4pm today.... Based on the reports received here till this evening, the voter turnout is around 40 percent. However, the number may increase or decrease finally," the CEC said at a post-election briefing at the EC Secretariat here.

The parliamentary elections were held in 399 seats out of 300 electoral constituencies throughout the country.

Replying to a query of journalists, the CEC said, "I can't say whether the election has been accepted internationally or not, but it has been good."

He informed the journalists that some 28 candidates boycotted the election on the polling day showing various allegations, including election irregularities. – GW News Desk.